Indianapolis resident Hassan Hummeid, originally from Syria, holds a flag on the steps of Monument Circle during a Palestinian solidarity protest against Israel, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Indianapolis. Brent Drinkut/The Star

Jihad Saadeh, of Indianapolis, holds a Palestinian flag on the steps of Monument Circle, with Meridian Street in the background, during a solidarity protest against Israel, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Indianapolis. Brent Drinkut/The Star

Palestinian solidarity protesters stand outside the building that hosts Sen. Dan Coats office as they speak out against Israel, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Indianapolis. The group stopped at Coats office to protest his co-sponsorship of Senate Resolution 498. Brent Drinkut/The Star

More than 200 protesters gathered in Downtown Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon to support the Palestinian cause and condemn U.S. support of Israel in the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Chanting "free, free Palestine" and "Israel is an apartheid state," the crowd met on Monument Circle to protest Senate Resolution 498, a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate this week that reaffirms U.S. support for Israel.

Israel sent thousands of soldiers and tanks into Gaza on Thursday, escalating a nearly two-week-old military operation aimed at destroying the terrorist group Hamas' weapons and ability to fire rockets into Israeli territory. At least 342 Palestinians and two Israelis have died as a result of the fighting.

"It's a shame that our government is supporting such killings," Maya Alshawa, one of the march's organizers, said of the Palestinian deaths.

The resolution, backed by Indiana Sens. Dan Coats, a Republican, and Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, calls on Hamas to cease its "unprovoked rocket fire at Israel" and reaffirms the Senate's support for "Israel's right to defend its citizens and ensure the survival of the state of Israel."

The crowd marched past Coats' Indianapolis office before circling back to the Circle. Some of the protesters carried signs that read "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel," "Gaza under occupation" and "Honk for Peace." Cheers erupted periodically from the protesters as motorists and taxi drivers honked their horns as they passed.

Alshawa, 18, a student at Butler University, said the protest is about, "justice, freedom and humanity." Like some of the protesters, she has extended family in Palestinian territories.

Hiba Alawadh, 26, heard about the protest and wanted to join. She said she came to the United States as a Palestinian refugee four years ago.

"You see kids dying and you can't do anything about it," Alawadh said.

The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council posted a statement on its website saying that it appreciated the support of Indiana's senators.

"The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries suffered, whether those hurt are Muslim, Christian, Druze or Jew," the statement read. "However, this current conflict ... is about the only democracy in the Middle East defending itself against ... terrorists."

Greg Maurer, treasurer of the Indianapolis JCRC, said protesters should not focus on Israeli airstrikes hitting civilians, but on Hamas' decision not to evacuate civilians from certain areas where they may be hiding their rockets.

Bill Mullen, a professor of English and American studies at Purdue University who helped organize the protest, said he wants the United States to stop supporting Israel. The media has made the conflict out to be a fight between equals, he said, instead of one in which Israel's military might and airstrikes are being used mostly against civilians.#